Retractable jaw gripper



HTTOBNE Y6 1957 6;. w. BARR Y RETRACTABLE JAW GRIPPEP.

Filed Oct; 12, 1 954 Hw 5 WW E United States Patent C) A This invention relates to improvements in tools designed for use in the applying or removal of a specific part. of a carburetor, and more particularly to a tool for the application orremoval of that particular piece known as the ball check retainer as used, for example, in-a Carter carburetor; this particular piece being quite small, of inverted cup-like form and fitted in a recess located at the lower end of a well of small diameter and relatively deep, thus making it very difficult to apply or remove the piece without the aid of a special tool.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a tool for the application or removal of the above mentioned ball-check retainer in an expeditious and easy manner, and without any damage to the piece.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tool of an elongated form, that is easily extendable into the well or passage within which the piece is located, and

which tool has jaws at its lower end that may, by means located at the upper or outer end of the tool, be opened apart for application over the piece, and may also be closed thereagainst to grip and hold it for removal through the mediacy of the tool.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above character having its jaws so formed as to facilitate their application to the ball-check retainer, andalso are equipped with sharpened internal teeth or ridges for secure gripping of the piece in the event that an oscillating action of the tool is required for its loosening and removal. Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts embodied in the tool, and in the mode of use of the tool, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of' which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat enlarged central, longitudinal section of the present tool.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the tool, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a lower end view of the tool, particularly showing the shape and spaced relationship of the jaws of the tool when opened apart.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end portion of the tool, showing the particular shape given the jaw portions, and also showing, below the jaws, a ball-check retainer of that particular kind for which the tool is designed to be used.

,Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a part of a carburetor containing. a well in which a ball-check and a ballcheck'retainerare. used, andillustra ting the jaws of the present tool opened and about to be applied about the ball check retainer.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated, in vertical cross-section, a portion of a carburetor; this being designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10. Formed in this par- 2,802,691 1:: Patented Aug. 13, 1957 2 ticular part of' the carburetor, is a vertical well 11 of small diameter and of substantial depth. At the base of the well is a gasoline inlet passage 12, and contained therein to close against a seat 13, is a ball valve 15. This ball is retained against upward displacement from the passage by means of a formed metal cap 16 which is known as the ball-check retainer. This particular piece is of inverted cup-like form,- well shown in Fig. 4, and has an outwardly extending peripheral flange 17 about its open lower end which is closely fitted in a shallow recess 18 in the bottom of the well and overa boss 18 that extends upwardly from the bottom of the well and through which the inlet passage 12 extends.

When the ball-check'retainer 16 is properly in place, as shown in Fig. 5, its flange17 is disposed flatly against the bottom of the recess as shown in Fig. 4, and it is impossible to engage it in any way or by any means suitable for effecting the removalofthe retainer.

In view -of the particular form of the ball-check retainer; its location in the well; and the small diameter of the well, which has made itentremely difiicult to either placethe ball-check retainer in position or to remove it from its functional position, the present tool has been made in an elongated form, of small diameter and designed with jaws at one end for holding the retainer therein for its easy application and firm seating. Also, the jaws are formed withsharpened ridges for effecting a non-slipping hold thereon whereby, incident to a slight oscillating or rocking action of the tool, as permitted by any slight clearance between it and the open end of the well, the retainer will be loosened and freed fromthe recess in which it is seated.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it is observed that the tool,'in its present form, comprises a tubular housing 20. This housing, for about two-thirds of its length leading upwardly from its lower end, in reference to its showing in Fig. l, is axially bored to one diameter, and its remaining upper end portion is axially bored to provide a passage of lesser diameter. 'At the junction of the two bores, is an annular, downwardlyfacing shoulder 22,- and the bore of lesser diameter opens through the upper end lofthe housing.

Contained inthe bore of larger diameter, is a rod or bar. 25. This is fitted in the bore for easy longitudinal shifting but is held against any relative rotation in the housing by a pin 26that is extended diametrically through the housing and through'a longitudinal sl0t 27 in the rod, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The ends of the pin are .fixed in the housing walls and terminate substantially flush with its outer surface.

Fitted for axial rotation in the upper end bore of the housing is a shaft 29. This extends into the larger'bore and is there formed with an annular enlargement 30 providing a shoulder that engages against the housing shoulder 22 topreventany relative upward shifting of the shaft. At its outer end, the shaft is equipped with a knurled knob 35 for its rotation and this knob seats against the upper end of the housing to prevent any relative downward or inward movement of the shaft.

The shaft 29 has a somewhat diametrically reduced inner end portion 29x that is threaded into an axial bore 25x formed in the upper end portion of the rod 25. Thus, by holding the housing '20 against rotation and turning the knob 35, the bar or rod 25 can be shifted longitudinally in thehousing ,eitherinwardly or outwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the knob 35.

The rod 25 extends at its lower end slightly beyond the lower end of the tubular housing 20, and this end portion thereof is slightly conically flared, as well shown in Fig. 4, to a diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of the bore in which the rod is contained. Also,

the -lower end of the rod has an axial bore 38 extending upwardly thereinto from its lower end to a substantial distance, and this bored endis formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots 40 at 90 intervals, thus setting off four separate jaw'portions whichare'individually designated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 by reference numeral 41. By reason of the slots and the resiliency of the jawsythey are inwardly yieldable.

By reason of the conically flared shape of the lower end portion of the rod 25, it will be understood that when the knob 35 is rotated in such direction as to cause the rod to be pulled upwardly and into the lower end of the housing, the jaw portions 41" will be pressed inwardly, thus to close toward any object that may be located between them. The normal diameter of the mouth, as provided between the four jaws in their open position, is just suflicient in diameter'to receive the cylindrical body portion of theball-check retainer? 16 therein a s has been indicated in dotted lines in Fig. .4. To fac litate the application of these jaws over a retainer, their ins de peripheraledges are downwardly and outwardly conically sloped, as at 45. To insure a better gripping action, the jaws are formed, at the top edges of the sloped surfaces 45, with a circularly directed, and sharpened rldge 46; this being formed by the counter boring, as at 48, of the rod bore 38 just'above the conical portion 45, and the beveling' off of the material about the, lower boundary of the counterbore to meet the conical surface 45 in a sharp edge; this being the ridge 46.

It is also to be observed, particularly by reference to Fig. 4, that the conical surface about the outside of the lower end of the rod 25 is terminated by an abrupt, upwardly facing shoulder 50 which may be caused to be seated against the lower end surface of the housing 20 as a limiting stop in closing the jaws. Also, it is shown that the lower end portion of the housing 20 is tapered off, as at 55, to a thin edge, and that the upper end portion of the housing is externally knurled to provide better hand holding facilities.

Assuming that the various parts of the tool are so formed, and are assembled as described, to use the tool for the removal of a ball-check retainer which has been applied as seen in Fig. 5, the jaws of the tool are first opened apart, then the tool is inserted into the well as shown, and the open jaws are applied over the retainer 16 with the lower ends of the jaws seated firmly against its flange 17. Then the knob 35 is rotated to thread shaft 291; into socket/25x and cause the housing to be pulled downwardly along rod 25 andthe jaws to be closed together in accordance with the movement of the housing downwardly along the conical outside surfaces of the jaws. This closing action of the jaws is continued'until the sharpened ridge 46 has been caused to bite into the wall of the retainer. Then by a backand forth or circular movement of the outer end portion of the housing 20, the retainer can be worked loose from the recess, and then be lifted out or the well;

Likewise, to apply a retainer, the jaws 41 of the tool are opened apart, the retainer pressed into place between them and they may then be sufiiciently closed to hold it. Then, by projecting the housing 20 down into the well, as has been shown in Fig. 5, the held retainer 16 can be applied to the recess, and pressed into place. Finally, the jaws are opened apart and the tool lifted out.

Tools of this kind are easy'to use; relatively inexpensive; satisfactory for their intended uses and make possible the saving of much time and expense for carrying on the work.

While I have described the tool as made for a specific purpose, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be CPL confined to this one use. it is fully understood that devices of this kind can be made in various sizes, and of various materials, and in different proportions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool of the character described comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, a chuck forming rod fitted coaxially therein for endwiseadjustment and having one end portion thereof extended from the inner end of said housing, and conically flared; said rod having a coaxial bore leading into and beyond the flared end portion thereof to substantial depth, and said bored end portion being longitudinally slotted at angularly spaced intervals thereabout thus providing a plurality of separate and inwardly yieldable jaw forming portions, a shaft coaxially mounted in the outer end of the housing and having an operative connection with said rod whereby an endwise adjustment thereof may be made to extend the conically flared end portion thereof into the tubular housing with camming action whereby a closing together movement of the jaw forming portions is effected; said bored end portion of the chuck rod having a conical counterbore providing a flared entrance to the mount between jaws, and a second counter bore immediately above the conical counterbore and merging therewith to provide a sharpened ridge encircling the entrance to the mouth.

2. A tool of the character described comprising an elongated tubular housing having coaxial bores of different diameters leading the reinto from different ends and opening into each other and providing an annular stop shoulder at their junction, faced toward the inner end of the tool, a chuck forming rod contained in the bore of larger diameter for endwise adjustment, and formed at its inner end with a coaxial bore and between its ends with a longitudinal slot, a pin passed through the housing and slot to prevent relative rotation of the housing and rod; a shaft rotatably fitted in the housing bore of smaller diameter and extending into the bore of larger diameter and formed with a collar seated against said stop shoulder, and having its inner end portion threaded into said inner end bore of the chuckv rod, a knob fixed on the outer end of the shaft and coacting with said collar to retain the shaft against endwise movement relative to the housing, and rotatable to effect endwise adjustment of the chuck rod; said chuck rod having the outer end portion thereof extended from the containing bore and conically flared to a diameter that is greater than the bore from which it extends; said rod being formed with a coaxial bore leading into the flared end portion thereof to a substantial depth; said bored end portion of the rod being longitudinally slotted at regular intervals thereabout to define a plurality of separate and inwardly yieldable jaw portions, adapted to be drawn into the housing by rotation of said knob and to be closed together by the caming effect of the conically flared portion of the rod with the housing in entering the bore; and said bore being conically counterbored, providing a flared entrance to the jaws and having an encircling sharpened ridge at the inner end of said counterbore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,506 .Watkins Nov. 12, 1918 1,615,201 Stowe et al. Jan. 18, 1927 2,435,137 Geertsema Jan. 27, 1948 2,510,596 Murphy June 6, 1950 2,553,985 Siracusa May 22, 1951 2,555,381 Thisse June 5, 1951 2,634,641 Hodges Apr. 14, 1953 

